The Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity Production from Fossil Fuels focuses on activities that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired electricity generation. These activities are developed and implemented with the active participation of UNECE member States, representatives from the energy and financial sectors, civil society, independent experts and academia.
Workshop: 26 October, 2016
The Sustainability Credentials of Coal and its Role in the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7
Coal typically is viewed as the least sustainable fuel source for electricity generation and industrial use. The negative health and environmental impacts of coal production and consumption are severe and must be addressed. However, detractors often fail to acknowledge the important role coal has played in lifting entire populations from poverty or the scale to which coal is integrated into society through the provision of jobs. It is in this context that the Workshop will discuss barriers to improving the sustainability credentials of coal and a pathway whereby it can be considered as part of the overall clean energy mix while delivering on the social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainability.
12th Session Meeting: 27 October 2016
The Group of Experts have defined a range of targeted task forces to carry out activities over 2016–2017. Following on the workshop, a deeper dive into specific topics will be discussed:
- Assess a future role for thermal power plants in sustainable electricity systems
- Increasing flexibility in coal power generation
- Decreasing emissions and increasing efficiency from new and existing coal power generation using best practices across the ECE region and globally
- Assess means for development and deployment of carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) technology and know-how
Full descriptions of the task forces can be found at:
http://www.unece.org/cleanerelectricityproduction/about.html